Ozone Chemistry during the 2002 Antarctic Vortex Split

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Abstract
In September 2002, the Antarctic polar vortex was disturbed, and it split into two parts caused by an unusually early stratospheric major warming. This study discusses the chemical consequences of this event using the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS). The chemical initialization of the simulation is based on Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) measurements. Because of its Lagrangian nature, CLaMS is well suited for simulating the small-scale filaments that evolve during this period. Filaments of vortex origin in the midlatitudes were observed by HALOE several times in October 2002. The results of the simulation agree well with these HALOE observations. The simulation further indicates a very rapid chlorine deactivation that is triggered by the warming associated with the split of the vortex. Correspondingly, the ozone depletion rates in the polar vortex parts rapidly decrease to zero. Outside the polar vortex, where air masses of midlatitude origin were transported to the ... Abstract In September 2002, the Antarctic polar vortex was disturbed, and it split into two parts caused by an unusually early stratospheric major warming. This study discusses the chemical consequences of this event using the Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere (CLaMS). The chemical initialization of the simulation is based on Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) measurements. Because of its Lagrangian nature, CLaMS is well suited for simulating the small-scale filaments that evolve during this period. Filaments of vortex origin in the midlatitudes were observed by HALOE several times in October 2002. The results of the simulation agree well with these HALOE observations. The simulation further indicates a very rapid chlorine deactivation that is triggered by the warming associated with the split of the vortex. Correspondingly, the ozone depletion rates in the polar vortex parts rapidly decrease to zero. Outside the polar vortex, where air masses of midlatitude origin were transported to the ...